Grant Programs
The Louisville Institute offers grants to support both pastoral sabbaticals and research by scholar/pastors and scholar/educators that strengthen
the religious life of North American Christians and their institutions while simultaneously advancing American religious and theological scholarship.
These grant programs aim to serve three strategic constituencies whose competence and well being are essential to the future of the church:
pastors, younger scholars, and researchers and scholars for the broader church. In doing so, they also seek to advance our understanding of
three issues of importance to both church and academy: Christian faith and life, pastoral leadership, and religious institutions.
The Louisville Institute grant programs invite academics and pastors to describe more fully how the Christian faith is actually lived by contemporary Christians and to bring the
resources of the Christian faith into closer relation to the daily lives of practicing Christians. Research into questions of Christian faith and life may include appreciative
recovery and critical re-appropriation of the riches of the Christian tradition in scripture and history as well as an investigation into the shape of contemporary Christian
life. What does a distinctively Christian life look like in the twenty-first century and how does it adapt and extend historic patterns of Christian discipleship? How might the
riches of historic Christian faith and practice best be re-appropriated for contemporary times?
The Louisville Institute supports inquiry by pastors and academics on North American pastoral leadership, with special attention to the conditions of contemporary
Christian ministry, the character of pastoral excellence, and the relationship between pastoral leadership and the well-being of the Christian community. Among the
questions orienting our work are the following: What qualities make for pastoral excellence in our time, and how can it be engendered and expanded? What habits
of learning, formation and growth are necessary for effective pastoral leadership? What is the shape of the well-lived pastoral life and what conditions are necessary
for its realization? How might pastors be better equipped for the task of shaping communities of faith? How may the church and its educational institutions employ the
wisdom of pastoral leaders for ecclesial and theological renewal?
The Louisville Institute supports inquiry by academics and pastors on the contemporary challenges and opportunities confronting religious institutions. Questions
guiding our work include the following: How might institutional excellence be described--historically, sociologically, and theologically? How does the religious and
theological core of religious institutions shape their mission and practice? How does the religious organizational ecology inform the way each organization carries
out its mission? How are religious institutions currently changing and how must they change in the future in order to advance the Christian gospel? Given the
contemporary cultural context, what do religious institutions need from religious leaders and what do religious leaders need in order to lead these institutions
more effectively?
The Louisville Institute offers six grant programs. Please consider carefully the descriptions of these programs in deciding which program might be best for
you, since you may apply to only one program during a given grant year. Click on the appropriate link below for additional application information about each
grant program.
Grant Programs for Pastors
Two Louisville Institute grant programs support thoughtful, reflective pastors by offering opportunities to some pastors for sabbatical renewal and to
others for creative research and writing that are deeply rooted in pastoral life and practice:
Sabbatical Grants for Pastoral Leaders
The Sabbatical Grants for Pastoral Leaders
Program provides pastoral leaders with sustained periods of time for rest, renewal, and reflective engagement
with their life and work and issues related to contemporary religious leadership. Grants of $10,000 or $15,000 support sabbaticals of eight or twelve weeks
respectively.
Deadline: September 1
Pastoral Study Project
The Pastoral Study Project Program offers
pastoral leaders opportunity to conduct serious investigation of issues related
to Christian life, faith, and ministry. Grants of up to $15,000 are
available for study projects involving full or partial leave from the
responsibilities of ministry.
Deadline: August 15
Grant Programs for Younger Scholars
Two Louisville Institute grant programs support the development of a new generation of ecclesially-engaged, younger scholars
for church and academy:
Dissertation Fellowship
The Dissertation Fellowship Program offers $19,000 grants to support the final year of Ph.D. or Th.D. dissertation writing for students engaged in
research pertaining to North American Christianity, especially projects related to the current program priorities of the Louisville Institute.
Deadline: February 1
First Book Grant for Minority Scholars
The First Book Grant Program for Minority Scholars assists junior, non-tenured religion scholars of color to complete a major research project on an issue
in North American Christianity related to the priorities of the Louisville Institute. Grant periods are typically one academic year in length. The maximum
award is $40,000.
Deadline: January 15
Grant Programs for Researchers and Scholars for the Broader Church
Two Louisville Institute grant programs support ecclesially-engaged work by scholar/researchers who may be based professionally in either the
academy or the church. These grant programs offer a variety of grant opportunities to this constituency.
Project Grant for Researchers
The Project Grant for Researchers
Program supports a diverse range of research and research-related projects undertaken in the interest of
believing communities. Projects might include short-term periods of research, consultations about one’s research involving pastors and academics, or
collaborative, innovative projects that promise to enhance learning and strengthen the church. Particularly attractive to the Louisville Institute are projects
that involve both academics and pastors in genuinely collaborative inquiry. All funded projects should involve substantial opportunity for learning that
will benefit the church. Grant amounts up to $25,000 are available.
Deadline: October 1
Sabbatical Grant for Researchers
The Sabbatical Grant for Researchers
Program assists research and writing projects that will advance religious and theological scholarship in
ways that also address practical issues concerning Christian faith and life, pastoral leadership, and/or religious institutions. Ordinarily applicants
will be fully employed in accredited academic institutions and will be eligible for up to a full academic year leave from teaching. Pastoral applicants
are also encouraged to apply. Grant amounts up to $40,000 are available.
Deadline: November 1